Queen. All the better.-May

This night fore-ftall him of the coming day!

[Exit Queen.

Clot. I love. and hate her for fhe's fair and.

royal,

2 And that the hath all courtly parts more exquisite
Than lady, ladies, woman; from every one
The beft the hath, and fhe, of all compounded,
Outfells them all: I love her therefore: But,
Difdaining me, and throwing favours on
-The low Pofthumus, flanders fo her judgment,
That what's elfe rare, is choak'd, and in that point
I will conclude to hate her, nay, indeed,

To be reveng'd upon her. For when fools
Shall-

Enter Pifanio.

Who is here? what! are you packing, firrah?
Come hither. Ah! you precious pandar! villain,
Where is thy lady? In a word, or elfe

Thou art straightway with the fiends.

Pif. Oh, my good lord!

[Drawing his fword.

Clot. Where is thy lady? or, by Jupiter,

I will not ask again. Clofe villain,

2 And that he hath all courtly parts more exquifite
Than lady ladies WOMAN; from each one

The best he hath,

-] The fecond line is intolerable nonfenfe. It should be read and pointed thus,

Than lady ladies; winning from each one.

The fenfe of the whole is this, I love her because fhe has, in a more exquifite degree, all thofe courtly parts that ennoble [lady] women of quality [ladies] winning from each of them the belt of their good qualities, &c. Lady is a plural verb, and ladies a noun governed of it; a quaint expreffion in Shakespeare's way, and fuiting the folly of the character. WARBURTON.

I cannot perceive the fecond line to be intolerable, or to be She has all nonfenfe. The speaker only rifes in his ideas. courtly parts, fays he, more exquifite than any lady, than all ladies, than all womankind. Is this nonfenfe? JOHNSON.

I'll have this fecret from thy heart, or rip
Thy heart to find it. Is fhe with Pofthumus?
From whose so many weights of baseness cannot
A dram of worth be drawn.

Pif. Alas, my lord,

How can fhe be with him? When was fhe miss'd? He is in Rome.

Clot. Where is fhe, Sir? Come nearer;

No further halting. Satisfy me home,
What is become of her?

Pif. Oh, my all-worthy lord!

Clot. All-worthy villain!

Discover where thy mistress is

at once,

At the next word-No more of worthy lord

Speak, or thy filence on the inftant is

Thy condemnation and thy death.

Pif. Then, Sir,

This paper is the history of my knowledge
Touching her flight.

Clot. Let's fee't: I will purfue her

Even to Auguftus' throne.

Pif. 3 Or this, or perish.

She's far enough; and what he learns by this, [Afide. May prove his travel, not her danger.

Clot. Humh!

3 Or this, or perish.] These words, I think, belong to Cloten, who, requiring the paper, fays,

Let's fee't: I will purfue her

Even to Auguftus' throne. Or this, or perish. Then Pifanio giving the paper, fays to himfelf,

She's far enough, &c. JOHNSON.

I own I am of a different opinion. Or this, or perish, properly belongs to Pifanio, who fays, as he gives the paper into the hands of Cloten, I muft either give it him freely, or perish in my attempt to keep it or elfe may be confidered as a reply to his boat of following her to the throne of Auguftus, and is added flily. You will either do what you fay, or perish, which is the more likely of the two. STEEVENS.

Pif. I'll write to my lord, fhe's dead. Oh,

Imogen,

Safe may'ft thou wander, safe return again!
Clot. Sirrah, Is this letter true?

Pif. Sir, as I think.

[Afide.

Clot. It is Pofthumus's hand; I know't. Sirrah, if thou wouldst not be a villain, but do me true fervice, undergo thofe employments, wherein I fhould have caufe to use thee, with a ferious induftry; that is, what villany foe'er I bid thee do, to perform it directly and truly, I would think thee an honeft man: thou fhouldst neither want my means for thy relief, nor my voice for thy preferment.

Pif. Well, my good lord.

Clot. Wilt thou ferve me? for fince patiently and conftantly thou hast stuck to the bare fortune of that beggar Pofthumus, thou can't not in the course of gratitude but be a diligent follower of mine. Wilt thou ferve me?

any

Pif. Sir, I will.

Clot. Give me thy hand; here's my purse.

Haft

of thy late mafter's garments in thy poffeffion? Pif. I have, my lord, at my lodging, the fame fuit he wore when he took leave of my lady and miftrefs.

Clot. The firft fervice thou doft me, fetch that fuit hither. Let it be thy firft fervice.-Go.

Pif. I fhall, my lord.

[Exit. Clot. Meet thee at Milford-Haven?I forgot to afk him one thing; I'll remember't anon.-- Even there, thou villain Pofthumus, will I kill thee. I would thefe garments were come. She faid upon a time (the bitternefs of it I now belch from my heart) that he held the very garment of Pofthumus in more refpect than my noble and natural perfon, together with the adornment of my qualities. With that fuit upon my back, will I ravifh her: firft kill him, and

in

There fhall the fee

in her eyes. There shall she fee my valour, which will then be a torment to her contempt. He on the ground, my fpeech of infultment ended on his dead body, and when my luft hath dined which (as I fay, to vex her, I will execute in the clothes that the fo prais'd) to the court I'll knock her back, foot her home again. She hath defpis'd me rejoicingly, and I'll be merry in my revenge.

Enter Pifanio, with a fuit of clothes.

Be thofe the garments?

Pif. Ay, my noble lord.

Clot. How long is't fince he went to MilfordHaven?

Pif. She can scarce be there yet.

Clot. Bring this apparel to my chamber; that is the fecond thing that I have commanded thee. The third is, that thou wilt be a voluntary mute to my defign. Be but duteous, and true preferment fhall tender itself to thee. My reyenge is now at Milford; would I had wings to follow it! Come and be true. [Exit.

Pif. Thou bidd'ft me to my lofs: for, true to thee, Were to prove falfe, which I will never be To him that is moft true. To Milford go, And find not her whom thou purfu'ft. Flow, flow, You heavenly bleffings on her! This fool's speed Be croft with flownefs.Labour be his meed!

[Exit.

SCENE

Enter Imogen in boy's clothes.

Imo. I fee, a man's life is a tedious one: I have tir'd myself; and for two nights together Have made the ground my bed. I should be sick, But that my refolution helps me. Milford, When from the mountain top Pifanio fhew'd thee, Thou wait within a ken. O Jove, I think, Foundations fly the wretched; fuch, I mean, Where they should be reliev'd. Two beggars told me I could not mifs my way. Will poor folk lye That have afflictions on them; knowing 'tis A punishment, or trial? yes: no wonder,

When rich ones fcarce tell true. To lapfe in fullness
Is forer, than to lye for need; and falfhood

Is worfe in kings than beggars. My dear lord!
Thour't one o' the falfe ones: now I think on thee,
My hunger's gone; but even before, I was
At point to fink for food. But what is this?

[Seeing the cave.
Here is a path to it:'tis fome favage hold:
It were beft not call; I dare not call: yet famine,
Ere clean it o'er-throw nature, makes it valiant:
Plenty and peace breeds cowards; hardness ever
Of hardinefs is mother. Ho! who's here?
2 If any thing that's civil, speak; if savage,
Take, or lend--Ho!-No anfwer? Then I'll enter.

Is forer,

2

If any thing that's civil,

Beft

-] Is a greater, or heavier crime. JOHNSON. -] Civil, for human creature. WARBURTON.

If any thing that's civil, fpeak; if favage,

Take OR LEND.

-] She is in doubt, whether this cave If it be the former, fhe bids ·

be the habitation of a man or beaft.